Box Score Ohio Wesleyan 85, Allegheny 72Sophomore post Taylor Dickson (Baltimore/Liberty Union) scored 4 consecutive Ohio Wesleyan baskets and senior post LaNiece McRae (Youngstown/Chaney) made some timely plays during the closing minutes as the Bishops defeated Allegheny in North Coast Athletic Conference action on Saturday at Branch Rickey Arena.
Allegheny got 3-pointers from Jessica Mrdjenovich, Marina Scarantino, and Emma Pellicano on the way to a 19-14 lead exactly 8 minutes into the contest, and the Gators still led, 28-27, after another Mrdjenovich 3-pointer.
Ohio Wesleyan closed out the first half with a 16-6 run, with senior guard Kristin Henning (Beavercreek) hitting a 3-pointer and sophomore guard Megan Kuether (Osgood/Marion Local) following with a pair of jumpers and a 3-pointer. Buckets by junior guard Hanna Fedorka (North Canton/Massillon Jackson) and Dickson gave the Bishops a 43-34 lead at the intermission.
The Gators closed to within 52-45 early in the second half after a pair of Mrdjenovich baskets, but Ohio Wesleyan countered with a 14-2 outburst that included a Kuether bucket, a pair of McRae baskets, and 4 straight hoops by Dickson, the last of which gave the Bishops a 66-47 edge with 12:16 to go.
Allegheny answered with a 12-0 run, with Mrdjenovich hitting a pair of 3-pointers and a pair of free throws along the way. The Gators narrowed the margin to 68-63 with 6:25 remaining in regulation time, and were still within 74-67 with 4:08 to go.
Kuether's free throw with 3:06 left made it a 75-67 game, McRae followed with a lay-in to push the Bishop lead back into double digits.
McRae then controlled defensive rebounds on consective Allegheny possessions, and added another defensive rebound during the final minute, while Fedorka, freshman guard Kyle Croxton (Columbus/Upper Arlington), and Dickson each hit a pair of free throws to help Ohio Wesleyan close out the game at the line.
Dickson led the Bishops with a career-high 20 points. Henning added 16 points, Kuether scored a career-high 14 points, and McRae finished with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Fedorka distributed 7 assists.
Mrdjenovich led Allegheny with 24 points.
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